Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-12-03

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

3

DECEMBER 2000 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] DE SOTO, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF ANNAN TO CYPRUS,

[03] ARSON ATTACK ON A MOSQUE IN GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE

[04] PLUMER, TRNC'S REPRESENTATIVE IN NEW YORK:

[05] NATIONAL EDUCATION MINISTER RECEIVED BY AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT

[06] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ:

[07] SECURITY FORCES INTERCEPTED 34 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

[08] SPORTS - AEROBIC GYMNASTICS

[09] A TURKISH FILM PRESENTED WITH ''CRITICISM AWARD''

[10] EXPORTS FROM TURKEY ON SECTORAL BASIS

[11] NEW CONCESSIONS PERIOD IN AGRICULTURE

[12] CULTURAL INTRODUCTION OF TURKEY IN EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS

[13] TURKEY DEMANDS 50 MILLION EURO SUPPORT FROM

[14] SECOND EUROPEAN YOUTH FESTIVAL STARTS

[15] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC:

[16] IMF DELEGATION HEADED BY DEPPLER TO ARRIVE IN ANKARA LATE ON SUNDAY

[17] PEHLIVANOGLU, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF ANAP:

[18] GENERAL STAFF: ''THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES HAVE NEITHER CARRIED

[19] IMF DELEGATION HEADED BY COTTARELLI, ARRIVES IN ANKARA

[20] GREEK CYPRIOT WOMEN INSULT TURKISH CYPRIOT JOURNALISTS VERBALLY

[21] ANNUAL TURNOVER OF TURKISH ENTERPRISES IN GERMANY TO RISE 10 PERCENT

[22] ARSON ATTACK ON A MOSQUE IN GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

IMF DELEGATION DUE IN TURKEY
A delegation headed by Michael Deppler, the Chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for European Affairs, will come to Turkey later today to hold talks on the supplementary loan.

FRIENDSHIP UNDER SHADOW OF SO-CALLED GENOCIDE
While politicians expend efforts to sow discord, artists set up friendship bridges. Performance of the Armenian State Dance Company in Istanbul was one of the best examples of this. As resolutions of so-called genocide on Armenians were brought onto agenda in the U.S., France, Italy and the European Union one after the other, the Armenian State Dance Company charmed Istambolis with its performance.

INCREASE IN EXPORTS FROM AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR CONTINUES
Exports from automotive sector between January 1 and November 30 increased 5.9 percent to 2 billion 365 million U.S. dollars and the increase in exports in November was 7 percent. According to the statistics of the Uludag Exporters' Association (UIB), the total exports from the automotive sector and sub-industry increased from 237 million 925 thousand U.S. dollars in November of 1999 to 254 million 685 thousand U.S. dollars in November of 2000.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Yilmaz attended inauguration of the second unit of Biracik Dam. When asked

whether or not coalition partners had agreed on draft law on amnesty, Yilmaz said, ''we have agreed on principles of draft law on amnesty. The Justice Ministry has begun works on the draft law.''

''F'' TYPE DETENTION
Security forces detained 25 people who attempted to hold an illegal demonstration in Beyoglu district of Istanbul to protest ''F'' type prisons in which inmates are kept in cells instead of large wards. A group of people gathered in front of Galatasaray High School on the Istiklal Avenue, and chanted slogans to support prisoners who went on death fast. Security forces intervened in the group, and called on them to disperse peacefully. After the demonstrators refused to disperse, security forces detained 25 of them.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

PRODI: ''WE WILL CALL SERVANTIE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE LETTER''
Romano Prodi, the Chairman of the European Union (EU) Commission, said that the letter sent by EU Commission's Turkey Desk Chief Alain Servantie to the terrorist organization PKK was a serious mistake. Stressing that an investigation would be launched against Servantie, Prodi said, ''I hope the letter would not affect relations between Turkey and the EU.''

ERCEL: ''WE SET THE WORLD INTO ACTION''
Gazi Ercel, the Governor of Central Bank, said, ''I held contacts with leading banks in the U.S. and Europe. I also held talks with governors of European central banks. We maintain the stability program without any concession.''

TURMEN: ''APO'S CASE CAN LAST FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS''
Riza Turmen, the Turkish Judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), visited Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. He informed Prime Minister Ecevit on application of lawyers of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of terrorist organization PKK. Turmen said, ''if the ECHR decides to hear the case of Ocalan, the case can last for nearly two years.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

TURKEY IS ASSESSING PROPOSALS
U.N. Secretary General's Special Representative to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto continues his contacts on the Cyprus issue which came on the agenda in parallel to the developments after the EU Commission's Accession Partnership. De Soto met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu yesterday. Meanwhile, Ankara is assessing the EU Term President France's proposals about the Accession Partnership. Ankara is assessing how those proposals are in harmony with the decisions taken at the Helsinki Summit.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

66 PIECES OF HISTORICAL WORK STOLEN FROM MILET MUSEUM
A total of 66 pieces of historical work were stolen from the Milet Museum near Balat village in Didim township of western Aydin province. Sources said the curator informed the gendarme on robbery. Preliminary research revealed that 47 archaeological works, 17 gold coins and two golden crosses were stolen from the museum. A full investigation into the robbery is under way.

TWO LETTERS FROM ARAFAT
Palestinian International Cooperation and Planning Minister Nabil Shaad said that they expected Turkey to assist them in solving unemployment problem in Palestine. Shaad who came to Turkey on a two-day official visit, met with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Suleyman Demirel, the former President of Turkey, and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. At the meetings, Shaad noted that the unemployment was one of the most serious problems in Palestine. Meanwhile, Shaad brought two letters from Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to Demirel and Prime Minister Ecevit.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

ERTUGRULOGLU: ''PROXIMITY TALKS CAME TO AND END''
Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said, ''arguments on proximity talks process are being kept high on agenda of public opinion to confuse people. It is quite clear. The proximity talks process came to an end. It is out of question for us to attend the sixth round of proximity talks.'' In an interview with the Turkish Agency-Cyprus (TAK), Ertugruloglu recalled that the proximity talks process had been started in order to prepare an appropriate ground for meaningful, face-to-face and state-to-state negotiations. Pointing out that the process had been continuing in New York, the U.S., and in Geneva, Switzerland, for a year, Ertugruloglu said, ''although we observed that the process could not be put on track in accordance with this target, we participated in the process with good will. We did our utmost by putting forward every kind of proposal.''

U.S. ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES INITIATIVES FOR TURKEY
The initiatives of U.S. President Bill Clinton's administration which supports Turkey aim at refreshing the international finance circles' confidence in Turkey. Finance circles in Washington D.C. said that with this objective, Clinton's administration bureaucrats were holding contacts with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials and managers of finance organizations including leading banks. Observers recalled that the crisis in the Turkish financial markets had been accelerated especially with the foreign banks' withdrawing their money in Turkey, stressing that those banks' refreshing their confidence in Turkey as a result of the U.S.' recommendations would play an important role in overcoming the problem in Turkey.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

YILMAZ: ''CRYING SHAME''
Mesut Yilmaz, the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of ANAP, said, ''we requested information from the EU. However, this letter is totally a scandal whether or not it was sent with the consent of the EU.''

CRITICAL SUMMIT
The EU leaders will convene in Nice, France. The most important issue will be whether or not Cyprus will be included in the Accession Partnership for Turkey and other most sensitive issues will be Aegean and Kurdish. Foreign Ministers' tomorrow's summit became more improtant after Turkey had announced that it would never make concessions from the Cyprus issue and the EU acted more flexible in Aegean.

GREEK CYPRIOTS DESECRATE MOSQUE
Greek Cypriot young people attempted to set fire to Omerge Mosque which is in the Greek Cypriot side of Lefkosa. Those Greek Cypriots who were captured confessed that they were the side who tried to set fire to the mosque. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign and Defense Ministry condemned the attack.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

KUTAN OF FP: ''GOVERNMENT IS THE ACCOMPLICE''
Recai Kutan of the Virtue Party (FP) said that the coffers of banks couldn't be emptied without a political support. ''We will introduce the power as the friends of robbers if the political partners of the robbers who emptied the coffers of banks are not identified.''

YILMAZ: ''LEADERS HAVE AGREED ON AMNESTY''
When asked by a journalist whether or not the amnesty draft law could be prepared before the three-day religious holiday that would start on December 27, Mesut Yilmaz of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said, ''we agreed on the essentials of the amnesty draft law. The draft is being prepared in accordance with the principles.''

[02] DE SOTO, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF ANNAN TO CYPRUS,

De Soto left Turkey for Greek capital of Athens.

[03] ARSON ATTACK ON A MOSQUE IN GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE

The U.N. Peacekeeping Forece in Cyprus officials told the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign and Defense Ministry that three Greek Cypriot young people who were drunk attempted to set fire to the Omerge Mosque but the fire was prevented by three Syrians who were passing by the mosque.

Those Syrians who put off the fire saw those Greek Cypriots who were escaping away, and informed the Greek Cypriot police on the incident, officials said.

Those Greek Cypriots who were captured by the Greek Cypriot police confessed that they were the side who set fire to the mosque, officials said.

The TRNC Foreign and Defense Ministry condemned the arson attack staged on the Omerge Mosque by the Greek Cypriots.

[04] PLUMER, TRNC'S REPRESENTATIVE IN NEW YORK:

Plumer responded to allegations put forward by the Greek Cypriot Representative at the United Nations' Sub-Committee no: 3, by sending a letter to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

In his response which was issued as a United Nations document, Plumer stressed, ''the Greek Cypriot side makes unjust and baseless accusations against the TRNC in every occasion. The occupation incident which the Greek Cypriot side brings onto agenda, has been the Greek Cypriots' 'government occupation' for 37 years.''

Referring to incidents between 1963 and 1974 which aimed at annihilating the Turkish Cypriots, Plumer said, ''those who were forced to leave their homes, were not only the Greek Cypriots. Also, sixty-five thousand Turkish Cypriots were forced to leave their homes and to migrate to the Northern Cyprus.''

Stressing that the Greek Cypriot side had been exploiting the missing people problem with the aim of propaganda, Plumer said in his letter, ''one of the most lively examples of this is the Hristos Cucularis incident. Cucularis, a Greek Cypriot sergeant, was killed in a clash on August 16, 1974. He was laid to rest in a mass grave. Although the Greek Cypriot authorities knew about Cucularis' fate, they hidden the facts from his family.''

Noting that allegations saying that Greek Cypriot children living in the TRNC had been deprived of education, were baseless, Plumer stressed, ''situation of Turkish Cypriots living in Southern Cyprus is a source of concern for us. These people have been exposed to pressure, torture and threat continuously.''

''Allegations saying that the Greek Cypriots' cultural heritage in Northern Cyprus was destroyed, were put forward with the aim of propaganda.

The fact was revealed in a report prepared by Van der Werff, the Rapporteur of the Council of Europe,'' he emphasized.

Plumer noted, ''The Turkish Cypriots' use of geographical names in Turkish language is normal. They have been living on the island for centuries. It is not connected with the change of geographical names. This situation reveals the real mentality of the Greek Cypriot side.''

In the letter, Plumer underlined that the Cyprus issue could be solved with a partnership between the two sovereign states on the island.

[05] NATIONAL EDUCATION MINISTER RECEIVED BY AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT

Speaking at the meeting, Bostancioglu recalled that the Turkish and Azerbaijani National Education Ministries had signed a cooperation protocol in Baku yesterday.

Bostancioglu said that they were carrying out works to convey the historical ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan to next generations with the history lessons given at the primary schools.

Bostancioglu said, ''we signed a cooperation protocol for education yesterday. There are two new articles that are preparation of a common history book for primary schools and utilization of technology for cooperation between our two countries in education.''

Bostancioglu said that they were carrying out works to transmit the lessons given in the Turkish universities to Azerbaijan and the lessons given in Azerbaijani universities to Turkey via internet.

Expressing his sorrow over the earthquake which had happened in Azerbaijan last week, Bostancioglu said he implored God's mercy and grace upon all who lost their lives adding that they undertook repair of two schools that suffered heavy damage in the quake.

Azerbaijani President Aliyev expressed his pleasure with Bostancioglu's visit to Baku and with the level of cooperation between the countries in field of education.

[06] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ:

Yilmaz who attended the ''Third Regular Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations'' in southeastern Gaziantep province, referred to the issue of amnesty.

Noting that ANAP was not in favor of amnesty, Yilmaz said, ''in past years, we implemented conditional release for two times. The implementations aimed at providing social peace.''

''Conditional release does not mean amnesty. Our support to the amnesty is an unwilling support. During the last meeting among leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government, we have agreed to exclude infamous crimes like rape from scope of amnesty. However, according to the Constitution, it is not possible to include the forestry crimes in scope of amnesty. We have agreed to include Article 169 of the TCK in scope of amnesty. The Article is about citizens who were forced to aid and abet a terrorist organization. The Amnesty Law will not be a comprehensive law,'' he added.

[07] SECURITY FORCES INTERCEPTED 34 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

The immigrants of Palestinian origin were taken into custody for violating the Turkish borders and the passport law.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the illegal immigrants would be deported once the legal proceedings were completed.

[08] SPORTS - AEROBIC GYMNASTICS

A total of 28 sportsmen and women from Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Romania attended the championships.

Cristian Molovan of Romania ranked first in the men's single category while Remus Nicolai of Romania ranked second, Roussev Tzanko of Bulgaria and Atalay Nalbantoglu of Turkey ranked third.

In women's single category, Kovatcheva Ludmila of Bulgaria won gold medal while Daniela Maranduca of Romania won silver medal, and Cristina Marin of Romania won bronze medal.

In doubles category, Kolev Marian-Lazarova Galina of Bulgaria ranked first while Izabela Lacatus-Remus Nicolai of Romania ranked second, Roussev Tzanko-Tania Hadjieva of Bulgaria and Gazi Umdu-Ozlem Keskin of Turkey ranked third.

In three-person teams, Daniela Maranduca-Mirela Rusu-Cristina Marin of Romania ranked first, Kovatcheva Ludmila-Lazarova Galina-Dotzeva Krassimira of Bulgaria ranked second, and Ercan Eliacik-Gencay Cuce-Atalay Nalbantoglu of Turkey ranked third.

[09] A TURKISH FILM PRESENTED WITH ''CRITICISM AWARD''

Addressing the award ceremony at the National Chaillot Theatre in French capital of Paris, Ceylan thanked the award committee.

Prime Minister Lionel Jospin of France and French Culture Minister Catherine Tosca were in attendance at the award ceremony.

[10] EXPORTS FROM TURKEY ON SECTORAL BASIS

According to the Exporters' Associations statistics, exports of flowers in first ten months of the year reached 11 million U.S. dollars.

In the same period, exports of electric and electronic devices and machines increased 14.4 percent to 2 billion 315 million U.S. dollars and exports or cement and earthenware rose 13.1 percent to 770 million U.S. dollars.

Between January and October of 2000, exports of steel and other metals increased 11.9 percent to 2 billion 823 million U.S. dollars.

Meanwhile, exports of olive and olive oil in the same period decreased 80.9 percent to 33 million U.S. dollars.

In the same period, exports of tobacco and tobacco products reduced 23.1 percent to 364 million U.S. dollars and exports of fresh fruits and vegetables decreased 22.3 percent to 472 million U.S. dollars.

In first ten months of 2000, exports of fruit and vegetable products decreased 19.3 percent to 108 million U.S. dollars.

Meanwhile, exports of ready-made clothings reached 5 billion 953 million U.S. dollars and exports of textiles and raw material became 2 billion 595 million U.S. dollars.

[11] NEW CONCESSIONS PERIOD IN AGRICULTURE

Sources said on Sunday that the ''National Working Group'' which was formed within structure of the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (DTM) to prepare the national opinion would finalize its report by the end of the year.

The national opinion will be presented to the WTO in January of 2001 before the millennium round talks that were foreseen to take place in Geneva, Switzerland in March of 2001.

The Working Group called on the relevant organizations to convey their opinions about Turkey's action points that were announced in the DTM's web page, and a meeting was held on November 29, 2000 in order to form the national opinion.

In accordance with the WTO Agriculture Agreement, countries made commitments about reduction regarding the entrance to markets, domestic assistances and exportation subsidies.

In accordance with these commitments, the developed countries make gradual reduction for a six-year implementation period within framework of their existing commitments while the same period for the developing countries is ten years.

The developed countries undertook to make at least 15 percent and maximum 36 percent reduction in each good in their customs tariff for a six-year schedule. The developing countries should make at least ten percent and maximum 24 percent reduction in each good in their customs tariff for a ten- year period.

The implementation period for first-term concessions of the developing countries like Turkey will end in 2004.

Turkey believes that the developed countries should make more concessions in order to further develop and liberalize world agriculture trade.

As a developing country, Turkey which consolidated all of its agricultural products to the WTO within framework of the WTO Agriculture Agreement will make at least ten and maximum 24 percent reduction in each good by 2004.

[12] CULTURAL INTRODUCTION OF TURKEY IN EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS

Addressing a panel discussion on ''Cultural Introduction of Turkey in EU Membership Process'' organized by the Dogus University, Baydur recalled that the Accession Partnership document prepared by the EU Commission, put forward conditions about the Cyprus issue and the Aegean dispute, and tried to register resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians officially.

Noting that European circles had been trying to keep Turkey under pressure, Baydur, ''Turkey should struggle in a reasonable manner for its rights without being angry. Otherwise, Turkey can be deceived by thouse who want to keep Turkey out of the EU. Turkey could not get the results it expected from the EU summits, but this does not mean that Turkey was isolated from Europe. It is dramatic outcome of Turkey's failure in developing a national foreign policy.''

Meanwhile, Varol Ozkocak, the Director General of Foreign Ministry's Cultural Affairs, said, ''Turkish people consider themselves as a natural part of Europe. Turkey is a European country with its rich cultural heritage.

Turkey's membership will make an important cultural contribution to the EU.''

Ozdem Sanberk, the Director General of Turkish Economic and Social Etudes Foundation (TESEV) said that the EU was based on cultural diversity.

[13] TURKEY DEMANDS 50 MILLION EURO SUPPORT FROM

Officials at the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that Turkey wanted to form a buffer zone in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, which suffer from intense livestock smuggling, in order to fight against the foot-and-mouth disease.

Although Turkey has been fighting against this disease which causes almost 40 percent production and output loss in cattle, it can't eradicate this disease due to livestock smuggling into its territories especially from Iran and Iraq. As a result of the EU's support, only the Thracian region was saved from this disease.

The EU does not allow imports of animal products from Turkey except its Thracian region due to this disease while Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria are carrying out a regional cooperation to prevent spread of this disease to Europe.

In a meeting held in October of 2000, Turkey told the EU that it wanted to form a buffer zone in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia and eradicate this disease. The final decision about formation of a regional buffer zone will be taken by the EU Standing Veterinary Committee.

In order to fight against this disease, there is a need for a 50 million Euro budget while the EU extended only 5 million Euro support.

The buffer zone planned to be formed in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia will cover 12 provinces.

[14] SECOND EUROPEAN YOUTH FESTIVAL STARTS

Addressing the opening ceremony of the festival, Fikret Unlu, the State Minister for Youth and Sports, said, ''this festival creates an international platform in which young people from all around the world can explain themselves with art that is considered as the universal language.''

Meanwhile, Karen Fogg, the Representative of European Union (EU) Commission in Turkey, expressed her pleasure with attending the festival on behalf of the EU Commission.

Referring to relations between Turkey and the EU, Fogg stressed that the EU Commission had concentrated on developing an accession strategy in cooperation with the Turkish government since announcement of Turkey's candidacy at last year's Helsinki Summit.

Underlining importance of setting up relations based on mutual confidence, Fogg said that the sides needed determination, energy, creativity and good will to set up such relations.

''Sometimes those who do not want us to set up good relations, can cause problems like a piece of paper,'' she said.

Noting that the sides did have necessary will for progress in relations, Fogg emphasized that young generations expected the sides to be successful.

Fogg wished that the festival would make a valuable contribution to the relations between Turkey and the EU.

Ertugrul Senoglu, the Chairman of Festival Committee, said that music, dance and theatre groups from Turkey, France, Britain, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Malta, Jordan, Croatia and Greece were participating in the festival.

Abdullah Dortlemez, the Deputy Undersecretary of Culture Ministry, and a number of guests were in attendance at the opening ceremony.

The festival will end on December 8.

[15] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC:

Stressing that a game was being played in the proximity talks process, President Denktas stressed, ''it is time to say stop to the game they are playing.''

Noting that they did not escape from the negotiation table but the table had been taken away from them, President Denktas said, ''we told them every thing, but they did not take into consideration us. The new process should be a way which do not lead us to abyss.''

''There was a blackout for media during the proximity talks, but the Greek Cypriot press violated it. People should know the facts now,'' he said.

President Denktas stressed, ''the fifth round of proximity talks was held in Geneva, Switzerland. But the proximity talks misled us. On every occasion, we told it to the government and Turkey. Our proposals were ignored in the process. Glafcos Clerides, the leader of Greek Cypriot administration, said before that they attended the proximity talks tactically. The Greek Cypriot side's European Union (EU) process has been continuing. They have allocated an airbase to Greece. They have been also continuing their armament. They consider Turkish Cypriots as a minority on the island. Now, we should say stop to all these developments.''

He noted, ''after we realized that the Greek Cypriots did not want a federation on the island, we returned to our confederation proposal. Turkey has been supporting our proposal. The confederation is our national policy. We sat on the negotiation table by being aware of these facts. I have been holding talks with Greek Cypriot leaders for years. In fact, the Greek Cypriot leaders do not want any agreement on the island.''

''We attended the proximity talks without any precondition. But the form which was put forward by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in Geneva on November 8 includes preconditions. We cannot accept them. The Greek Cypriots are continuing their policy to take whole Cyprus. The proximity talks process ended. The new process should be a way which do not lead us to abyss. I did not take the decision to withdraw from the proximity talks on my own. The government has also decided that the proximity talks process ended. Turkey supported our decision,'' he emphasized.

President Denktas said, ''the Greek Cypriot side's application for EU membership does not have economic purposes, but political targets. Now, they are trying to participate in the European army.''

President Denktas said, ''we will collect the opinions which were put forward by the United Nations during the proximity talks process, in a book, and distribute it both in Turkish and English languages.''

He added, ''we did not escape from the negotiations, but we will not use our state as a bargaining element.''

[16] IMF DELEGATION HEADED BY DEPPLER TO ARRIVE IN ANKARA LATE ON SUNDAY

Sources said that the official confirmation about the IMF delegation's arrival had been conveyed to Ankara late on Saturday.

The IMF delegation comprising of more than ten officials in two groups headed by Deppler would arrive in Turkey late on the same day, sources said.

Any official statement on the period of IMF delegation's stay in Turkey was not made.

IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli will be one of the officials in the IMF delegation.

Sources said that the supplementary letter of intent which had been prepared after the third and fourth term review meetings that had been concluded during Cottarelli's previous visit was finalized, and it would be submitted to the IMF through the delegation that would arrive in Ankara late on the same day, sources said.

Officials said that it was still not clear whether or not a change would be made in the supplementary letter of intent within framework of the new meetings with the IMF delegation headed by Deppler.

Meanwhile, sources said that announcement of extension of a 30 billion U.S. dollars loan half of which would be reserves to Argentina by the IMF in order to overcome the financial crisis in Argentina couldn't be a creterion for the amount of supplementary loan to Turkey by the IMF.

Stating that there were intense commercial relations between Argentina and the U.S., experts said that the IMF would extend such a great amount of loan to Argentina to prevent spread of financial crisis to other countries.

Recalling that the country quota had not been taken into consideration in the SFR loan extended to Argentina, officials said that the IMF would not rapidly extend the whole loan to Argentina but it would give the loan in years in accordance with a programme.

Noting that they expected the IMF to rapidly extend the loan to Turkey, officials said they did not expect the IMF to base the loan on difficult conditions and performance conditions but acceleration of some arrangements within scope of the letter of intent could be brought onto the agenda.

Repayment of the SFR loan was between 1.5 and 2 years and it could reach 2.5 years under some conditions although this loan's interest rate was higher than the stand-by deal, sources said.

Recalling that some countries were negatively affected when the Turkish banks had sold their foreign debenture bonds due to the financial crisis in Turkey, officials said support of other countries and organizations to Turkey was also expected to be brought onto agenda in order to prevent spread of the crisis.

Stressing that the IMF which had suffered a tough period in international platform after the crises in Far East and Russia and other big economies attributed great importance to success of the continuing economic programme in Turkey, experts said that some circles had already taken action to overcome the crisis in Turkey.

[17] PEHLIVANOGLU, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF ANAP:

Staging a press conference at the ANAP's headquarters, Pehlivanoglu said, ''we are not in favor of amnesty. Amnesty became a social problem due to approaches of some politicians. Leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government have reached a certain point on the issue. We hope that the amnesty issue would come to a conclusion next week. Meanwhile, we do not want gang members and those who empty coffers of banks to benefit from amnesty.''

''The government is determined to maintain the economic programme in order to reduce the inflation rate to one-digit numbers and to provide financial adjustment. Reforms such as social security, privatization and supervision of banks were finalized. As a result of confidence atmosphere stemming from these reforms, the inflation decreased to 50 percent from 100 percent while interest rates reduced to 35-40 percent from 120 percent,'' he stressed.

Pehlivanoglu told reporters, ''some circles are still doing their utmost to prevent Turkey from entering the European Union (EU). The Republic of Turkey does have indispensable principles. Two of them are Cyprus and Aegean issues. We want to become a member of the EU, but we are not obliged to enter the EU at any cost.''

Referring to the letter sent by EU Commission's Turkey Desk Chief Alain Servantie to the terrorist organization PKK, Pehlivanoglu said that Turkey expected the EU to correct this mistake immediately.

[18] GENERAL STAFF: ''THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES HAVE NEITHER CARRIED

Releasing a statement, the General Staff Secretariat General said that such news items and articles in the newspapers were totally baseless.

It said that the TSK had never carried out a work or taken a decision on the issue of ''Pentagon Model'' as it was claimed in those news items and articles.

[19] IMF DELEGATION HEADED BY COTTARELLI, ARRIVES IN ANKARA

The second delegation headed by Michael Deppler, the Director of the European One Department of the IMF, is expected to arrive in Ankara late on the same day.

The IMF delegation will hold talks on a supplementary financial support to overcome the crisis in the Turkish financial markets.

Any official statement on the period of IMF delegation's stay in Turkey was not made.

[20] GREEK CYPRIOT WOMEN INSULT TURKISH CYPRIOT JOURNALISTS VERBALLY

A group of Turkish Cypriot journalists wanted to proceed to the Greek Cypriot side in order to cover arrival of Alvaro de Soto, the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to Cyprus.

The Greek Cypriot women insulted the Turkish Cypriot journalists verbally by shouting, ''you have occupied our country''.

The Greek Cypriot police calmed down the angry demonstrators, and allowed the Turkish Cypriot journalists to proceed to the Greek Cypriot side.

The Greek Cypriots have been holding demonstrations at the Ledra Palace Border Gate since the border incident in Derinya in 1996.

The Greek Cypriot administration and the Church are supporting such demonstrations.

[21] ANNUAL TURNOVER OF TURKISH ENTERPRISES IN GERMANY TO RISE 10 PERCENT

Yunus Ulusoy, the Chairman of TAM Liaison Bureaus for Foreign Entrepreneurs, said in a report that the number of Turkish enterprises in Germany which was 55,200 in 1999 would rise six percent at the end of 2000.

Stressing that the Turkish entrepreneurs who made important contributions to prosperity of Germany were acting as a bridge for the Turkey-Germany relations, Ulusoy said, ''the 50.3 billion German marks of annual turnover of the Turkish enterprises in Germany in 1999 will rise ten percent at the end of this year.''

Meanwhile, TAM Deputy Director Cigdem Akkaya said that all public circles in Germany appreciated the Turkish entrepreneurs' success which contributed to also the adjustment.

Stating that the Turkish entrepreneurs were aware of their social responsibilities, Akkaya said, ''almost eight percent of the 55,200 Turkish entrepreneurs gave professional education to the young people in 1999, and this rate will reach fifteen percent by the end of the year.''

[22] ARSON ATTACK ON A MOSQUE IN GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE

Issuing a written statement, Hasipoglu condemned the arson attack on the Omerge Mosque. ''We observe that the Greek Cypriots have a continuous aggression and tendency. The whole world should be informed on hypocrisy of the Greek Cyriots who accuse the Turkish Cypriots of destroying their cultural heritage.''

''Since 1963, our cultural heritages in the Greek Cypriot side have been destroyed as a result of attacks and expropriation of Greek Cypriots. Documents regarded with these incidents were submitted to the relevant authorities. The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee for Protection of Cultural Heritage have been informed on the obnoxious attack on the Omerge Mosque,'' he stressed.

Three Greek Cypriot young men attempted to set fire to the Omerge Mosque yesterday, but the fire was prevented by three Syrians who were passing by the mosque.

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